Finding Charlie Rose

Charlie walked behind the big wooden box her brothers were carrying while holding hands with Uncle John. She didn't know what was happening at all. The coffin was placed down in front of the chapel and one of the women with the funeral home dressed the coffin with flowers and a picture of Sally sitting on it. "J it's mummy" Charlie said pointing at the photo. "Yeh princess, come on let's sit down" John whispered to Charlie. Jackson Senior and his wife looked at the little girl who had called Sally her mummy, one with hatred and the other with adoration.

Charlie sat on Sam's lap with Liam on one side and Uncle John on the other. Liam held the snacks for Charlie so she would sit still. The rest of the boys sat next to Liam while Damien, Shane, Ross and Mrs Harper sat behind the boys. Jackson sat on the other side with his parents glancing at Charlie every so often wanting nothing more than to know his daughter.

As the service progressed Charlie got more wriggly and when it was time for Sam to speak she wanted to go too. Sam held his sister in his arms while he went up to the microphone and began to speak of his mother's love for her children. How she lived her life for her kids and always put them first. He talked about the little things like kissing them on the forehead and telling them she loved them which Charlie did to Sam earning chuckles from the people in the Chapel. Charlie waved to her brothers and uncle while Sam continued to speak.

"Lee Lee, look I here" Charlie called out waving to Liam who had his head down trying not to cry and hearing stories about his mother. Liam looked at his sister and waved back "Sammy down Lee Lee sad" Charlie told Sam trying to get down so she could go comfort her brother. "Disrespectful brat" Jackson senior called out earning glares from his grandchildren and his son.

Charlie ran over to Liam and climbed onto his lap putting her little hands on either side of his face and kissing his forehead just like his mum used to. "No be sad Lee Lee" Charlie told her brother. Liam held onto Charlie while she snuggled into his chest giving Liam comfort. Sam finished his speech before sitting down next to Liam kissing Charlie on the head.

John spoke fondly of his sister apologising for not being there for her when she needed him. No one mentioned Jackson at all in any of their speeches which didn't go unnoticed by Jackson Senior. He was angry about the disrespect of his grandchildren towards their father. Jackson understood and knew he deserved to be shunned for what he had done. His mother squeezed his hand to give him strength. She also wanted to ask her son about the little girl who was with her grandchildren. She looked so much like Sally and wondered who had father the child.

As the service came to an end the song "Thank You for Being a Friend" was played while a slide show of pictures of Sally was played. There were pictures of Sally as she grew up, pictures of her with each of the boys and them all together and pictures of Sally and Charlie. "Bee look mummy and Charlie" Charlie called out when she saw a recent photo of her and Sally.

When the photo of Sally with Santa and the boys came up Charlie called out "kissmas? Charlie come too" she yelled. Charlie was excited seeing the photos and was bouncing on her seat and calling out at the different photos. Once the slide show finished the curtains around the coffin were closed and the boys stood up. Charlie wanted to walk so they held onto Byron and Oliver's hand. Sam held the picture of his mum and walked out of the chapel carrying it with Liam walking next to him. Byron, Charlie and Oliver walked out next followed by Uncle John and then his sons. Jackson Senior tried to push his way in front of John but was stopped by Ross and Mrs Harper standing in front of him. Each row followed the one before out of the chapel going to pay respect to Sally's family. Charlie stood with her brothers saying "welcome" to the different people who came over to meet her and her brothers.

Jackson senior stormed over to his grandsons fuming. He wanted to know who the little girl was and why she was calling his son's wife mummy. He also wanted to scold them for disrespecting his son. As he got in front of his grandsons, his wife and son stood behind him. "Who is this disrespectful little bitch? Your mother truly was a whore taking off to father another child while her husband suffered" he bit out. "Charlie let's go over to the garden princess" Ross said taking Charlie away from what was about to happen.

"Don't you dare speak about my mother like that" Sam fumed out. "I will speak about her however I like. I'm here to spit on her coffin" Jackson senior yelled. "Leave, now. You are just like your son a pathetic excuse of a man" John bellowed. "Father let's go, my children have just lost their mother. I don't want to upset them" Jackson tried to coax his father away. "That thing is not your child, yet it was calling your wife mummy" Jackson Senior screamed. "Don't you dare disrespect my sister like that. She deserves better than men like you in her life degrading her" Liam fumed out. "She is my grandbaby" Jackson's mother Maree stated not taking her eyes off the little girl playing in the garden. "That thing is no relation to you Maree, keep your mouth closed or I'll close it for you" Jackson senior spat out.

"That's enough father. Don't you dare threaten my mother like that or speak about my daughter. You are a disgrace and Mum deserves better than you" Jackson finally said standing up to his father. "Watch yourself boy or I'll disown you. You knew about that thing and you didn't tell me? She will need to learn her place quick smart. A girl shouldn't be heard unless asked a question directly" Jackson senior stated going towards Charlie to teach her her place seeing no one else had. "You lay one hand on my daughter and I will put you in the ground. You may have killed your own daughter but you won't get near mine" Jackson yelled to his father.

"What did you say?" Oliver asked. Jackson senior swung around looking at his son "That's right father. I know exactly what you did, how you beat your wife causing her to lose her baby girl because you didn't want females. You are pathetic but I am no better. I harmed my wife just like you did. That's the worst thing ever, I'm just like you. But my sons aren't, they will protect that little girl from men like you and me" Jackson told his father.

"I will take custody from you. Maree and I will teach her her place" Jackson senior seethed. "I have already signed my rights over to Samual and Liam she will never have to be anywhere near you" Jackson spat out. "I'm sorry mum. I'm sorry you won't be able to know your granddaughter but I won't have him near her. She is too precious to know that thing" Jackson continued.